Soldiers and sailors > History of Columbus

HISTORY
OF
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
Christopher Columbus, the celebrated naviga¬
tor, and first discoverer of America, was a na¬
tive of Genoa. Neither the time nor place of
his birth is known with certainty ; only he was
descended of an honourable family, who, by va¬
rious misfortunes, had been reduced to indi¬
gence. His parents were sea-faring people ;
and Columbus having discovered, in his early
youth, a capacity and inclination for that way
of life, was encouraged by them to follow the
same profession. At the age of fourteen, he
went to sea : his first voyages were to those
parts in the Mediterranean frequented by the
Genoese ; after which he took a voyage to Ice¬
land ; and proceeding still further north, ad¬
vanced several degrees within the polar circle.
After this, Columbus entered into the service
of a famous sea-captain of his own name and
family. This man commanded a small squa¬
dron, fitted out at his own expense; and by
cruising, sometimes against the Mahometans,
and sometimes against the Venetians, the rivals
of his country in trade, had acquired wealth and
reputation. With him, Columbus continued
for several years, no less distinguished for his
courage than his experience as a sailor. At